The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-01
Newness of the South,
st. Louis Republican

Inc NcW OOulns SO elOuutnIl1 Ue-
scribed by the prophetic Grady, is pressing
forward with giant strides. The dawn of
the era of development which occurred
several years ago has been followed by the
morning of prosperity. The ''New South
represents progress and fraternity, and the
evidence submitted below will corroborate
this assertion. The new and old South ele-
ment were both strongly represented on
the floor of that august religious body
which was in the city during the past week.
Desiring to get the testimony of the South
on its ''newness,'' a Republican reporter
Intercepted number of the prominent
gentlemen on the subject.
Col. J. l.. Power, one of the elders from
Mississippi, is the proprietor of the Jack
son Clarion, and is an authority on Missis-
sippi matters. He said:
mississippi is essentially an agricultural
State. Cotton has been, and will always
continue to be, its chief product. Until
the last few years it was almost the only
crop. We are now, however, diversifyiug
our industries, and manufactures are
springing up all over the State. Our peo-
pie are paying special attention to stock
raising, and some of the finest nerds of Jer-
seys and other improved cattle are to be
found in Mississippi. Six or more cream
cries have been started within the past
year. Within the last few weeks a grass
growers convention was held in Aberdeen,
and it was very largely attended. Fruit
culture and early vegetables for the North
ern markets, are found to be far more
profitable than cotton raising. / have no
statistics, but the development in these
particulars is marked and gratifying. We
have one of the largest cotton and wooden
mills in the Southwest, at Wesson, employ
ing nearly 1000 persons; another cotton
mill is being erected at Columbus, while at
Aberdeen, Meridian, Columbus, jackson,
Vicksburg, Natchez and other places, fac
tories of various kinds are being establish
ed, yielding handsome returns. Several of
our larger towns have contracted for water
works, electric lights and other features of
ADVANCED PROGRESS.
''There are only two or three States in
the Union that have been more highly
favored with railroad facilities. We have
now three great through lines from North
to South-the Great Valley road on the
West, the Illinois Central near the centre
of the State, and the Mobile 81 Ohio and
New Orleans and Northeastern on the East,
and the Gulf d Ship Island, now being
constructed, will pass directly through the
centre of the State, from the Tennessee
line to the Gulf Coast; then the Vicksburg
& Meridian railroad and several other
lines give our people all needed transporta-
ton facilities"
What are the facts regarding immigra-
ton, the colored element and your educa-
tional advantages?
''Well, we are offering no special in
ducements to Immigrants. All who come
to live and labor among us are most cor
daily welcomed. Lands are cheap, be-
cause we have more area than we can Guilt
vate to advantage, and hence small farms
will soon be the rule rather than the excep-
ton. As to the colored element, there is
the very best feeling between the races.
The colored people are largely in the ma
jority in Mississippi, but there is no longer
a feeling of distrust among them that they
will not have all their civil, religious and
political rights under Democratic gov
eminent. They get the lions share of the
school fund, and their progress in edu-
cation is remarkable. There are three
and several other schools of
high grade for the colored people, support
ed in whole or in part by the State. For
the whites we have the State University at
Oxford, the Agricultural College at Stark
Vile. and the Industrial Institute and Col
Iege for white girls at Columbus, all en-
lowed by the State, besides number of
other first-class colleges.
There is a growing feeling in favor of
and even prohibition in Mis-
sissippi; nearly one-third of the counties
have prohibition laws. jackson. the State
capital. for the first time in its history, has
no saloons.
ssWhat is the financial condition of your
State, and in what direction have you any
special boomg'
"The financial condition of Mississippi |
IS very good. During carpet-bag rule an |
Indebtedness of nearly two millions was
created, and but for the fact that the State |
1ad then no credit, her faith would have
been pledged during that regime to an un- |
limited extent. About the only bonds out
standing are those issued last year and this, |
% pay current expeuses-the Legislature |
having refused to increase taxation, and |
made appropriations for educational and /
benevolent institutions in excess of the
revenues. All demands against /
he State are promptly cashed. The State
and nearly all the county and |
municipal governments, are economically
and public officials who. do
lot want to be rotated out of position
ealize that the economical expenditure of /
he peoples money goes a long way at the
,0lls.
1--WE have not been troubled with sbooms,'
Except in very small way. Iron ore, of
.ood quality and in large quantities, has
,een discovered st Enterprise, Duck Hill,
md in few other localities. We have
n almost inexhaustible supply of timber,
nd the mills in our great pine belt re-
ZION have more than they can do in fill
ng orders from the West All the tim
'er in tho Exposition building in New
orleans, was furnished BY mills on our
,oast, and all the lumber for the great
ridge Of the I. @ r. r., at Cairo, will come
q Mississippi.
altogether, the situation in Missis-
ippi is healthful and hopeful. With q fer
IA aoiI \ franial olimafA and m in0raaa-